motivation | encouragement | support
These book reviews fit within the historical fiction genre-my favorite!
The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel is captivating! It explores matters of conscience and family, and it ties into the legend of Robin Hood. What more could you want? An enthusiastic five stars! Overview of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel: Colette Marceau has spent a lifetime stealing jewels, … Read more
What an amazing book! I loved this beautiful story and its diverse cast of characters. Captivated from the start, I was quickly caught up in the emotions, dreams, and fears of this motley group. I strongly recommend The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner! Summary of The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner In the … Read more
Every December I like to look back at the books that shaped my year. Some come from beloved authors I follow closely, while others were received as recommendations from friends. Each left something behind: a fresh idea, a deeper faith, a spark of joy. Reading has a way of helping me cultivate growth and stay … Read more
A dear friend introduced me to author Laura Frantz many years ago. Her books are meticulously researched and offer a captivating blend of history, romance, and faith. I’d like to share a little bit about her and highlight several of her books. I highly recommend them all! Who is author Laura Frantz? Laura Frantz, a … Read more
I’ve just finished The Room on Rue Amélie by Kristin Harmel, and I offer an enthusiastic five stars! Set primarily in Paris during the second world war, it’s a beautiful story of courage and love. I learned so much about the French Resistance and their heroic efforts to help downed RAF pilots escape. A riveting … Read more
My sister-in-law recommended The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar to me ages ago, and I finally picked it up. Wow, now I understand why she was so enthusiastic! The novel weaves together the lives of two young women living in very different eras but facing equally challenging circumstances. With chapters shifting between the … Read more
Photo attribution (above): Unknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Caption: Tea at Chartwell in August 1927 (left to right): Thérèse Sickert, Diana Mitford (later Mosley), Eddie Marsh, Churchill, Professor Frederick Lindemann, Randolph Churchill, Diana Churchill, Clementine, and Walter Sickert. Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict is a fictionalized biography of Clementine Churchill. Clementine’s work behind … Read more
I just finished reading The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn, and I was enthralled! Wow! A captivating and fascinating read. Recommended to me by my sister-in-law, who has never steered me wrong, Mila Pavlichenko’s story is mesmerizing. I have read few books from the Russian perspective, so perhaps that was part of what caught my … Read more
An absolutely riveting read! Perhaps I was so caught up in it because I had never read anything about the Berlin Wall. Moreover, I remember when the wall came down in 1989. Getting a glimpse of how the wall impacted people and turned lives upside-down was thought-provoking and emotional for me. An enthusiastic five stars … Read more
A compelling read based on a true story, Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris is the second book in her acclaimed Tattooist of Auschwitz series. Alternating between her experiences at a Soviet gulag and Auschwitz-Birkenau, the book emphasizes Cilka’s time in Siberia. The hardships Cilka faces are unfathomable, but she demonstrates exceptional strength and resilience through … Read more